Lidl to expand store in spite of extra traffic problems

Bord Pleanala has granted permission for a 59% expansion of the Lidl store in Blacklion, Greystones. They also allowed the number of parking spaces to be reduced from 234 to 181.

Lidl are required to provide land to inset the busy bus stop and to provide a left turn lane which will help traffic whenever built. No deliveries to or from the store are allowed at night (from 2200 to 0600 hours nor at school entry and leaving times (0800 to 930 and 1300 to 1530).

‘I objected to this because of the extra traffic at an already congested spot and feel it should wait until the Redford Park Junction and road to Delgany have been improved. The Council has been planning to do this road expansion since 1989 but has not finished it yet! We cannot keep expanding the town without the roads planned so long ago. I am disappointed Bord Pleanala have decided this development should go ahead without the infrastructure’.

Temple Carrig School and RGDATA also objected to the plan.

There is still a valid planning permission, for another 3 years, on the site for a fast food outlet which was intended to be a McDonalds even though the zoning was recently changed to prohibit this with the ‘no fry zone’ amendment. Some time ago Lidl issued a Press Release that they were not currently proceeding with that permission but it is still valid. A case for Judicial Review of the planning permission for the fast food outlet is due in court in May.